Vacuum cleaner



April 7, 1936. E. O' HANSSQN 2,036,694

VACUUM CLEANER A Filed Oct. 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 7, 1936. E. o. HANs'soN l VACUUM CLEANER Filed Oo'l'.. 16, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4. I FFM? `Patented Apr. 7, 1936 PATENT OFFICE VACUUM CLEANER Erik Oskar Hansson, Stockholm, Sweden, as-

signor to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, Del., a

corporation of Delaware Application October 16, 1933, Serial No. 693,724 In Germany April 4, 1933 10 Claims.

My invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly to means for resiliently mounting a motor-fan unit in the casing of the cleaner.

In Patent No. 1,860,885 granted May 31, 1932, there is disclosed means for resiliently mounting the motor-fari unit which comprises` coil springs adapted to be stressed in a direction at right angles to the axes of the springs by the weight of the motor-fan unit. This arrangement of the springs whereby they are stressed at right angles to their axes has been found to be very satisfactory for absorbing vibrations caused by the operation of the motor-fan unit and preventing the transmission thereof to the casing. However, the axes of the springs disclosed in the above patent are parallel to the `axis of rotation of the motor-fan unit. The result is that forces acting parallel to the axis of the unit also act parallel to' the axis of the springs and, hence, not at right angles thereto. Such forces result .from the reaction of the fan against the air stream produced thereby, or if the cleaner unit should be accidentally dropped on one end thereof.

One of the objects of my invention is to so arrange the springs supporting the motor-fan unit that they will be stressed in directions at right angles to their axes both by forces resulting from the weight of the unit and by forces acting parallel to the axis of the unit.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specication, and on which:

Fig. 1 is a side view, chieiiy in cross-section, of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end View of the device shown in Fig. 1 with certain of the parts removed;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View on an enlarged scale taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; Y

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side view, chiefly in cross-section, of my invention applied to a modiiied type of vacuum cleaner and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of a spring support shown in Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 through 4, reference character Ill designates the cylindrical barrel portion of a vacuum cleaner casing. Suitably secured to one end of barrel I is4 a ring An end member I2 is adapted to be clamped to ring by means of suitable spring clips I3 or the like. Member I2 is provided with a centrally threaded aperture I3 into which may be screwed a coupling member I4. Coupling I4 likewise has a central aperture adapted to receive one end of a flexible hose I5, the other end of which may be connected to a suitable dust collecting nozzle I6. A rigid hollow handle member I'I may be interposed between the hose I5 and the nozzle I6.

Secured to the other end of barrel IllA is a ring I8. A ring I9 is secured to ring I8 by means of a plurality of bolts 2U. Ring I9 supports an electric motor 2| in a manner which forms the subject matter of the present invention, and which will bedescribed later. Motor 2| is provided with an armature shaft 22 upon which is mounted a fan comprising one or more rotors 23. Rotors 23 arer surrounded by a cylindrical housing 24 supported by ring I9. An intermediate wall 25 comprising part of the fan housing is located between the two rotors while a forward wall 2E is located ahead of the iirst rotor. Both of these walls have central apertures and the aperture in wall 26 is protected by means of a perforated guard plate or the like 2l.

Located within the casing between the fan chamber and the end member I 2 is a dust bag 28. Bag 28 comprises a suitable cloth bag which permits the passage therethrough of air but is substantially impervious to dust. This cloth bag is secured to a ring 29 having a radially extending ange 3D. Flange 30 is provided with a suitable packing ring and is clamped between end member I2 and ring Secured to ring I9 by means of bolts 3| is a motor guard 32 provided witha. plurality of 'apertures 33 therethrough. A rear closure member 34 is adapted to be slipped over a cylindrical portion of motor guard 32 and to be held in place by means of spring clips or the like similar to those shown at I3. Member 34 is provided with a centrally threaded aperture 35 which is adapted to receive coupling member I4 when the device is used for blowing. A plurality of inclined louver members 3B are preferably arranged adjacent to opening 35 and serve to direct the air discharged therethrough upwardly. A lter 31 may be arranged within'fmember 34 so that all of the air passing through the casing-must pass through the iilter.

The cleaner unit is adapted to be supported on a horizontal surface by means of a pair of parallel runners 38 secured at one end to ring and at the other end to ring I8'. A handle 39 is provided for carrying the unit and a switch 40 serves to control the operation of the motor.

Ring I9 is provided with a plurality of pairs of lugs 4 l. nl the embodiment shown three pairs of these lugs are equidlstantly spaced around the inner circumference of the ring. As appears more clearly from Fig. 3, each of the lugs 4| is formed with a semi-cylindrical recess 42. A clamping member 43 is adaptedto be secured to eachlug 4| by means of a bolt 44. Clamping members 43 are likewise provided withA semicylindrical recesses 45 which match upgwith recesses 42 in lugs 4| to form cylindrical recesses. These cylindrical recesses are adapted to receive and hold socket members 46 which'` are preferably made of rubber. Motor 2| is pro- -vided with a plurality of lugs 41,v each one of which is arranged to extend between pairs of lugs 4|. Lugs 41 are formed with apertures therethrough which are preferably threaded. A spiral spring 48 is adapted to be threaded into the aperture in lugs 41, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3. The ends of springs 48 are received in sockets 46 which are clamped in the \recesses formed by lugs 4| and clamping members 43. I

It is preferable that springs 48 be maintained under stress in a direction parallel to their axes and hence tension rods 49 are provided. These rods are formed with slots 50 adjacent their ends, into which slots the ends of springs 48 are hooked. The relative lengths of springs 48 and rods 49 are such that the latter may maintain the former under tension'.

The operation of the above described device is as follows:

Upon rotation of the rotors 23 by the motor 2|, air is caused to be drawn in through nozzle I6, hollow handle |1, hose |5, coupling' member 4 and end member |2 into the dust bag 28. If nozzle |6 is passed over a dusty surface, this air will carry dust intothe bag. Here the dust will be deposited While the air will pass through the` material of the bag and will be discharged by the fan over and around motor 2|, thus cooling the motor. The Vair then passes through openings 33 in guard 32 and through lter 31 and out through opening 35.

The rotation of the armature shaft 22 and rotors 23 causes a certainamount of unavoidable vibration to be set up in the motor-fan unit.

If thisvibration Were communicated to the barrel I0 or othery parts of vthe casing, undesirable noises would result. By the provision of myimproved spring supporting means substantially all of this vibration is absorbed.

The rotation of rotors'23 tends toI move the air from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 1, and hence reaction forces tendingvto move the motor-fan unit from right to left are set up. Due to the arrangement of the springs 28 tangentially with respect to the circumference ofthe motor 2|, these forces act at right angles to the axes of the springs. Also, the weight of the motor-fan unit also acts at right angles to the axis of the lowermost spring and has a component acting at right angles to the axes of the other two springs. Thus, all of the forces normally present act in directions substantially at right angles, to the axes of the springs. Furthermore, should the cleaner unit be accidentally dropped on either of its ends, the large forces acting on the motor supports by reason of the resulting shock would also act at right angles to the axes of the springs.

In Figs. 5 and 6 my invention is shown as applied to a vacuum cleaner in which the axis of rotation of the motor-fan unit is vertical. Reference character 5| designates a vertically -arend of the casing and cover 52, is a dust bag 55.'

'Ihe lower end of casing 5| is supported on a base member 56. Located within base member 56 and within the lower part of casing 5| is an electric motor 51 having a vertically arranged armature shaft on which is mounted one or more which is comparatively large while a portion 62 is smaller and is threaded to receive a bolt 63. Base 56 is provided with apertures 64 axially in line with the apertures in brackets 60. Bolt 63 is provided with a collar 65 adjacent to its threaded end and with a washer 66 adjacent to the other end. A spring 61 is arranged around bolt 63 and has the portions at one end thereof reduced in diameter so s tov bear against the face of collar 65. -Theportion at the other end of spring 61 is enlarged in diameter sufiiciently so that it will not pass through apertures 64 and is clamped between the outside of the base member and Washer 66.

threaded aperture 62, spring 61 is placed under tension.

Motor 51 is provided with brackets 68 having apertures 69 therethrough. Brackets 66 are so located that apertures 69 are in line with apertures 6| and 64. Apertures 69 are preferablyprovided with sleeves 1|) of soft rubber or the like.l

Bolts 63 withsprings 61 thereon are adapted to be inserted through aperture 64 in the base member, through apertures 69 in the brackets 68, into apertures 6|, and the end of the bolt threaded into apertures 62. Thus, the motorfan unit is resiliently supported on the spring 61 and the weight of the unit acts to stress the springs in a direction at right angles to their axes.

Nuts 1|- arepadapted to be threaded on to springs 61 and tightened against opposite sides .of brackets 68 in order to prevent lateral move- Thus, as bolt 63 is screwed into q the fan through and aro'und the motor and out y through opening 12.

The operation of the motor-fan unit sets up vibrations which are absorbed by the springs 61. In this embodiment the forces on spring 61 resulting both from the weight of the motor-fan unit and thetendency of the fan to displace the unit in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation, act

upon the springsin a direction perpendicular to their axes. Also, should the unit be dropped on its end, the resulting shock will act at right 'angles to the axis of the spring 61.

It will thus be seen that in both modifications practically all of the forces which may occur act on the supporting springs in directions substantially at right angles to the axis of the springs. Inasmuch as the springs are designed to be subjectto force acting in this direction, they will efficiently absorb the vibrations and/or shocks resulting from these forces. While there have been shown three springs in each of the modifications, it is apparent that other numbers of springs may be employed.

While I have shown and described two more or less specic embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that many variations thereof fall within the scope of the invention,which is to be limited only by the appended claims considered in connection with the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner including a cylindrical casing and a motor, a plurality of coil springs for resiliently supporting said motor in said casing, and means for securing one lengthwise portion of* each of said springs to said motor and other lengthwise portions of each of said springs to said casing so that said springshare stressed in direction perpendicular to their axes by forces acting on said motor parallel to the axis of said casing.

2. In a vacuum cleaner including a cylindrical casing and a motor, a plurality of coil springs for resiliently supporting said motor in said casing, and means for securing one lengthwise portion of each of said springs to said motor and another lengthwise portion of each of said springs to said casing so that forces acting on said motor parallel to the axis of said casing and a com` ponent of the force resulting from the weight of said motor act to stress said springs in direction perpendicular to their axes.

3. In a vacuum cleaner including a cylindrical said casing.v

4. In avacuum cleaner including a cylindrical" casing and a motor, a plurality of coil springs for resiliently supporting said motor in said casing, lmeans for securing the ends of said springs to said casing with the axes of said springs lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said casing, and means for securing the central parts of said springs to said motor.

5. In a vacuum cleaner including a cylindrical` perpendicular to the axis of said casing for receiving the end turns of said coil springs, and a plurality of lugs secured to said motor and provided with cylindrical apertures for receiving the central turns of said coil springs.

6. In a vacuum cleaner including a cylindrical casing and a motor, a plurality of coil springs for resiliently supporting said motor in said casing, and means for securing one lengthwise portion of each of said springs to said motor and another lengthwise portion of each of said springs to said casing so that said springs are tangential to said motor.

'7. In a vacuum cleaner including a cylindrical casing and a motor, a plurality of pairs of lugs extending inwardly from said casing, each of said lugs formed with a semi-circular groove therein, clamping members formed with similar semicircular grooves, means for securing a clamping member to each of saidl lugs so that the groove in the lug and in the member together form a cylindrical recess, a coil spring for each pair of lugs having its ends received in said recesses, and

means for securing the central part of each spring to said motor.

8'. In a vacuum cleaner including a cylindrical casing and a motor, a plurality of coil springs for resiliently supporting said motor in said casing, a plurality of apertured lugs on said motor, the axes 0f said apertures being tangential to said motor, threads formed in the apertures having substantially the same pitch as the turns of said coil springs whereby said springs may be screwed into said apertures and held in place therein, and means for securing the ends of said springs to i said casing.

9. In a vacuum cleaner including a cylindrical casing and a motor, a plurality of coil springs for resiliently supporting said motor in said casing, means for securing the ends of said springs to said casing with the axes of said springs tangent to a circle concentric with the axis of said casing and lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said casing, and means for securing the central parts of said springs to said motor.

10. In a vacuum cleaner including a cylindrical casing and a motor, a plurality of coil springs for resiliently supporting said motor in said casing, means for securing the ends of said springs to said casing with the axes of said springs extending radially with respect to the axis of said casing and lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said casing, and means for securing the central parts of said springs to saidmotor.

ERIK OSKAR HANSSON. 

